The International Bar Association (IBA) condemns the imposition of additional sanctions by the United States on the President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Judge Tomoko Akane, and a senior trial lawyer within the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor, Abdoulaye Seye.

Claudio Visco, IBA President, stated: ‘The ICC is the court of last resort for victims of atrocity crimes. The US’ continued, unilateral, coercive measures against the ICC threaten the Court’s ability to fulfil its mandate for these victims who deserve justice for the grave harms they have suffered. The ICC is a critical component of the international rules-based order, and its States Parties must take concrete actions to defend the Court and its officials’.

This development follows the initial sanctions against the ICC issued by the Trump administration on 6 February 2025 under Executive Order 14203, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent declaration announcing a campaign to ‘dismantle’ the ICC including through possible further sanctions and diplomatic pressure on States Parties to reject the Court’s authority.

Dr Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the IBA, commented: ‘The IBA condemns, in the strongest terms, the political threats, intimidation and attacks against the ICC by the Trump administration. Such actions are unacceptable attempts to interfere with the independence of judges and lawyers and represent a serious threat to the global rule of law. The international legal order depends on the independence of courts and those who serve them, and it must be defended.’

The IBA has consistently condemned sanctions against the ICC and those cooperating with it and has called on states to defend the Court as a last avenue for victims seeking justice.

ENDS

Contact: IBApressoffice@int-bar.org

Notes:

1. The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. As a court of last resort, it seeks to complement, not replace, national courts. Governed by an international treaty called the Rome Statute.

2. The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the ICC. It sets out the Court’s jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and – as of an amendment in 2010 – the crime of aggression.

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4. The International Bar Association (IBA), the global voice of the legal profession, is the foremost organisation for international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. Established in 1947, shortly after the creation of the United Nations, it was born out of the conviction that an organisation made up of the world's bar associations could contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice.

   The IBA acts as a connector, enabler, and influencer, for the administration of justice, fair practice, and accountability worldwide. The IBA has collaborated on a broad range of ground-breaking, international projects with the United Nations, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, The Commonwealth, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, among others.

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Website page link for this news release:

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Full link: www.ibanet.org/The-IBA-condemns-US-sanctions-against-the-President-and-a-senior-official-of-the-International-Criminal-Court